Read the Article. Then Answer the Questions That Follow

Reading (50 points)

Read the article. Then answer the questions that follow.

Is the Legal Age for Competitive Sports Too Young?
By Bill Starr
In the last 20 years, the legal age to participate in competitive sports in the United States has gone down. Children can now begin competing in sports like basketball and soccer at just nine years of age, and they can play competitive baseball at the age of five!
Some child experts are concerned that these children are spending too much time practicing and playing sports and not enough time just being kids. They also claim that some parents and coaches put too much pressure on children to win.
In his book about children in competitive sports, writer Paulo David wrote that children should not be under such pressure. In the mind* of a child, you win when you try hard enough, and you lose when you don’t. So when children don’t win, they feel very bad
about themselves. David believes that this is a problem. He writes that participating in competitive sports should help children believe in themselves – not be disappointed in themselves.
In the book Why Johnny Hates Sports, writer Fred Engh says, “if kids are competitive at early ages, then they may not be trained in how to fail.” If their coaches talk about winning all the time, he feels, children may be afraid to fail and make mistakes. The problem is that children have to make mistakes in order to learn. If coaches shout at them when they do something wrong, children will be too afraid to try.
I think that as parents, we need to remember that the reason children play sports is not to win but to have fun!

*mind דעה, חשיבה/ رأي، تفكير

1Circle the correct answer.(1 x 5 = 5 points)

From the first paragraph (lines 1-3) we understand that … .

a.children played sports at a younger age in the past

b.children should begin competitive sports at an early age

c.children now start competing at a very young age

d.it’s a good idea for young children to compete in sports

2Why are some child experts worried about young children(1 x 10 = 10 points)
in competitive sports? (lines 4-6) Write ONE answer.

......

3Complete the sentence.(1 x 10 = 10 points)

According to Paulo David, when children lose, they......

...... (lines 7-12)

4Circle the correct answer.(1 x 5 = 5 points)

In the book Why Johnny Hates Sports, Fred Engh explains ... . (lines 13-17)

a.why kids are trained in how to fail

b.what happens when kids are not trained in how to fail

c.how important it is for coaches to talk about winning

d.why kids shouldn’t make mistakes in sports

5What is Bill Starr’s opinion? Copy the sentence(1 x 10 = 10 points)
from the text that answers this question.

......

6Circle the correct answer.(1 x 5 = 5 points)

Where would you NOT find this article?

a.in a sports magazine

b.in a parent’s newsletter

c.in a book about child psychology

d.in a brochure for a sports club

7Answer the question. (1 x 5 = 5 points)

What do you think should be the legal age for competitivesports? Explain.

......

Vocabulary (20 points)

ACircle the correct answers.(10 x 1= 10 points)

1.The restaurant wanted to hire him because he was a very experienced / disappointed / concerned chef.

2.It was a long game but mentally / sooner or later / eventually we won.

3.Many teens with asense of adventure / common sense / age limits like extreme sports.

4.Her dream was to achieve / attempt / delay to climb Mount Everest even if she couldn’t get to the top.

5.Some athletes hold the record / evaluate / keep up in their sport for years until someone breaks it.

6.She asked her teacher for skill / development / permission to go home early from school.

7.She couldn’t handle / order / lack all the pressure so she decided not to take part in the competition.

8.During army training, soldiers often have to carry heavy goals / loads / thrills.

9.She hoped she would be chosen for the port / reality show / voyage.She always wanted to be on TV.

10.Ben realized it was no fun to be alone / mature / confident when his family went on a trip without him.

BComplete the sentences with the words below.(8 x 1 = 8 points)

insistson top of the worldsuephysically
capablenow and thencontinentfewer than

1.I like to go to the movies ...... , but not every week.

2.Israel is on the Asian ......

3.After I won the medal I felt like I was ...... !

4.She is ...... of winning the race. She just has to believe in herself.

5.My mother always ...... that I come home before midnight.

6.I’m not going on the hiking trip because I’m not ...... fit for it
right now.

7.The day after the school trip there were ...... 10 students in class.

8.Our neighbor wants to ...... us because our dog made a mess in hisgarden!

CONTINUED

CYou are the owner of a store.Last night a thief brokeinto(2 x 1 = 2 points)
your store. Write two sentences about what happened.
Use the words below.

get caught skill common sense technically extremely experienced

......

Language (20 points)

ACircle the correct answers.(5 x 1 = 5 points)

1.I have a test at 8 a.m. I have to / could / may get to school on time today!

2.My uncle should / can / must speak four languages - Hebrew, Arabic, English and French.

3.The teacher told the students that they don’t have to / might not / mustn’t use pencils on the test. They can only use pens.

4.When my sister was three years old, she had to/ was able to / should ride abicycle. Today she takes part in bicycle marathons!

5.We don’t have to / couldn’t / might not be at the concert before 7:00 p.m.
But I want to get there at 6:30 so we can get good seats.

BComplete each sentence with a modal or semi-modal.(5 x 1 = 5 points)

1.I ...... go on a trip this weekend. I haven’t decided yet.

2.Let’s call Sandra before we go to visit her. She ...... be at home.

3.All cars ...... stop when the light is red.

4...... you help me with my bags? They are very heavy!

5.My doctor told me that I ...... exercise every day to stay healthy.

CCircle the correct answer to complete each question.(5 x 1 = 5 points)

1.Your sister is in the army, is she / isn’t she?

2.Why did you / Why you call me so late?

3.You watched the game last night, didn’t you / weren’t you?

4.How far from school do you live / you do live?

5.Do / Are you help with the cooking at home?

CONTINUED

DComplete the questions.(5 x 1 = 5 points)

1.You were surprised, ...... ?

2...... can we work on our project – tonight or tomorrow?

3...... you usually do your homework when you get home from school?

4.What time ...... the party end last night?

5.Your brother will help us with our math homework, ...... ?

Writing (10 points)

Write a letter to the editor of your school newspaper about something you think should change in your school. Pay attention to spelling, grammarand punctuation. Write 60-80 words.

Write about one of the ideas below or an ideaof your own.

• Students should get a free day before a big test.

• School should be one hour less a day.

• Students should have more lessons using computers.

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